Flat knitting frame



March 29, 1938. A RlCHTER FLAT KNITTING FRAME Filed Sept. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l \NVENTOR ARTHUR QICHTER B M ATTO NEY March 29, 1938. A. RICHTER 2,112,346

FLAT KNITTING FRAME Filed Sept. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig M M I fir I L L 2 \NVENTOR ARTHUR RICHTER ATTO NEY Patented Mar. 29, 1938 PATENT OFFICE FLAT KNITTING FRALIE Arthur Richter, Berbisdorf Post Einsiedel, Germany Application September 25, 1935, Serial No. 42,129

Germany April 21, 1934 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a clock attachment in fiat knitting frames. In the usual clock attachments the lace finger rods are adjusted by a stop member controlled by a pattern mechanism which, as a rule, comprises a plurality of pattern segments controlled a reduction of the working speed of the machine during narrowing.

It is one of the objects of the invention to eliminate this drawback by providing, after adjustment of the stop member by its pattern mechanism, for bringing the latter out of engagement with the stop member for a new adjustment, the stop member being held in its position by'special means until the narrowing operation is completed. The pattern mechanism is disposed on a horizontally adjustable slide.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device described in the preceding paragraph so that the time-consuming expulsion of the stop member into the outer end position, hitherto required and efiected by a special wedge for each new narrowing course, can be dispensed with, the expulsion in connection with the device incompletely described above being only necessary when the stop member has to be adjusted towards the side turned away from its pattern mechanism. The locking of the stop member by separate means would otherwise be released at the very moment when the newly adjusted pattern mechanism while moving into operative position engages the nose of the stop member. This would involve difiiculties, as the pattern mechanism reaches thestop member at different times, according to adjustment.

This object is attained by providing, besides the means for holding the stop member adjusted by the pattern mechanism in position during readjustment of the mechanism, additional means for preventing the return of the stop member. The stop member locked by thiifirst means is released after a'narrowing operation has been completed and the newly adjusted pattern mechanism is fed or is moved back into operative position, the stop member secured only against return and to be driven 'out with respect toits momentary adjustment being pushed into its new position'by the pattern mechanism horizontally moved for this purpose when the mechanism has reached the stop member.

Another object of the invention is to render the additional locking means preventing the return of the stop member movable, so that the stop member to be moved back with respect to its momentary adjustment can be slowly returned to'the newly adjusted pattern mechanism moved into operative position by means of its usual tension spring.

In this manner the hitherto required expulsion of the stop member into its inoperative end position can be dispensed with.

It is known to fix the stop member of clock attachments in position independently of its adjusting pattern mechanism, but this is done only for the purpose of shifting the stop member after each narrowing operation within one and the same narrowing course to the extent required to release the newly adjusted lower step of the segment of the pattern mechanism. The adjustment of the segment and thus the feeding of the pattern chain thereof are, however, efiected only after the narrowing operation has been completed. Furthermore, according to the known method, the stop member must simultaneously be driven out into its inoperative. end position at each narrowing course, as rackingof the stop member relative to the new adjustment of the segment can be carried out only if the stop member is always racked backwards. This is possible duringrepeated narrowing in one and the same course, but cannot be done when several narrowing courses are made. I

By way of example, the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a clock attachment provided with a special fixing means for the stop member, seen from the side, the stop member being adjusted by the pattern mechanism and the fixing means being in inoperative position.

Fig. 2 indicates how the pattern mechanism after adjustment of the stop member is" brought out of engagement therewith, whereas the fixing means engages the stop member.

Fig. 3 shows a clock attachment which besides the special fixing means for the stop member possesses an additional locking means to prevent the return thereof, the locking. means being shown to hold the stop member instead ofthe fixing means to permit the newly adjusted pattern mechanism moving into operative position to push the stop member into its new position if it has to be racked to the side turned away from the pattern mechanism; and

Fig.4 shows how this special movable means for locking the stop member against return makes it possible for the usual tension spring of the stop member to guide the latter slowly towards the re-adjuste-d pattern mechanism if the stop member has to be racked back, the regular fixing means for the stop member being disengaged therefrom.

Referring to the drawings, the pattern mechanism 2 serving for adjusting the stop member I cooperating with the rod or rods 5 carrying the lace fingers comprises pattern segments of which only one is shown for the sake of simplicity and a pattern chain for adjusting these movable segments. The segments and their pattern chain are arranged on a slide 3 which, according to the invention, is horizontally adjustable for the purpose of moving the segments and their pattern chain for re-adjustment out of range of the nose 6 of the stop member I when the latter is adjusted. As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the stop member I is in the meantime, until completion of the narrowing operation is effected, held in adjusted position by a member 4 replacing the pattern mechanism 2 and consisting, in the example shown, of a member 4 attached to a bar I that can be raised and lowered and engaging a corresponding locking member 8 on the stop member I when the bar I is lowered (Fig. 2). The pitch of the toothed or serrated locking members 4, 8 is of course proportioned to the gauge of the machine.

Instead of being horizontally immovably secured to the bar I the member 4 is simultaneously used for initiating the throwing over motions of the lace finger rod 5. As the loops are thrown over either to the right or left, the adjusted stop member I must therefore carry out an additional motion towards these sides to permit the transfer of the loops. For this purpose, the member 4, which is held in central position when no loops are covered, is attached to its bar I so as to be adjustable in horizontal direction. For adjustment a stepped wedge 9 is provided against which the member 4 is held by a spring, not shown, and the arrangement is such that during non-covering the middle step of the wedge 9 is opposite the member 4. This middle step is so long that it will be in engagement with the member 4 even if the latter has been lowered from its upper inoperative position into operative position according to Fig. 2. The vertical shifting of the wedge 9 produces the transfer of the loops on the lace points, to the adjoining frame needles. Obviously this takes place after the loops in question have been disengaged from their frame needles so that the operation ini'- tiated by the wedge 9 forms one of the last operative steps of the transfer of loops. For this reason, when the transfer takes place, the nose 6 of the stop member I no longer is in engagement with the corresponding segment of the pattern mechanism 2. The pattern mechanism 2, as soon as the member 4 becomes lowered into locking engagement with the member 8 of the stop member I, is carried backwards from the nose 6 for shifting for the next operation, as shown in Fig. 2. It is possible for the wedge 9 also to shift the stop member I to the left. Fig. 2 shows how the pattern mechanism 2 for shifting for the next narrowing operation, is carried back from the nose 6 of the stop member I which meanwhile has been held fast by the member 4 on the rod I, in which position of the working parts, the transfer of the received loops can take place by shifting of the wedge 9. According to whether covering is to be effected to the right or left, the stepped wedge 9 is moved up or down whereby a corresponding lateral motion is given to the member 4 and transmitted by the latter to the stop member I.

The slide 3 in operative position is governed by an eccentric or cam I6 by means of the levers I9 and'20 and the roller IB as shown in Fig. 1.

I have now described the clock attachment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which, owing to the mobility of its pattern mechanism and the arrangement of a special fixing means for the stop member I, has been enabled to effect re-adjustment of the pattern mechanism during the covering operation.

It will now be described how this clock attachment is supplemented according to Figs. 3 and 4 so as to dispense with the expulsion of the stop member I into its inoperative end position required prior to each covering. The stop member is for this purpose, besides the member 8, fitted with a second locking means I 2, I4 to prevent its return. This second locking means I2, I4 comprises the pawl I2 and the ratchet I4 attached to the stop member I. The two locking means 4, 8 and I2, I4 operate in timed relation, so that the locking of the stop member I effected by means of the members 4, 8 is released when a covering operation is completed and the newly adjusted pattern mechanism 2 is moved back into operative position. Only the locking means I2, I4 p1 eventing return of the stop member I remain operative with the result that the pattern mechanism 2 while moving into operative position strikes the nose 6 of the stop member I and pushes the latter in front of it into the new position if the stop member has to be driven out relative to its momentary adjustment. Wherever the pawl I2 may then engage the ratchet I4 of the stop member I to prevent return motion, the member I with its ratchet I4 will simply be drawn away underneath the pawl I2, it being absolutely immaterial whether the stop member I has to be driven out for a new covering operation in one and the same course or for a new course with respect to its adjustment. 1

If the stop member I has to be racked back relative to its adjustment, it is drawn by its spring II towards the pattern mechanism 2 which is readjusted and returned to operative position. As the tension spring II of the stop member I is not in any way handicapped during this operation, the stop member will at great speed make quite a hard contact with the pattern mechanism 2, especially if the member I has to be racked back a long distance. This drawback is eliminated by imparting mobility to the locking means I2, I4 which prevent return of the stop member I. The bearing I3 of the pawl I2 is disposed on a swinging lever I5 controlled for instance by a cam disc, the arrangement being such that the pawl I2 is slowly guided back if the stop member I is to be returned (Fig. 4). In this manner the efiect of the spring I I is damped, and the stop member I, during its return motion, will slowly engage the newly adjusted pattern mechanism 2.

It will be clear from what has been said above that during racking back of the stop member I the pattern mechanism 2 must be already in opforward racking of the stop member I the pattern mechanism 2 will pass into operative position only after it has pushed the stop member I into its new position. For this reasomthe motion of the slide 3 relative to operative position must be effected at different times. In the construction shown the slide 3 is for this purpose provided with two cam discs I6, I! which are staggered relative'to one another and which alternately adjust the slide 3 by means of a roller lever I 9 and a rod 20, the roller III of the lever I9 being displaceable on its shaft to bring the lever I9 under the control either of the cam disc I6 or I I. The essence of the present invention consists mainly in that the time available for carrying out the actual narrowing operation does not have to be used in part for the shifting of the pattern mechanism 2, as was heretofore the case in all known clock attachments. For this reason the essential feature of the present invention is that the whole pattern mechanism 2, after adjustment ofxthe stop member I, is withdrawn from the latter whereby the pattern mechanism. 2, during one narrowing operation, can be freshly adjusted for the next narrowing operation. In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a clock attachment designed for such operation. Figs. 3 and 4 show this mechanism with the addition of a second device I2, I I for preventing running back. The purpose of this device is to avoid the forcing of the stop member I to the right which was always heretofore necessary when the shifted pattern mechanism 2 is again returned to its position of use. The arrangement comprising ratchet device I I is such that the stop member I is simply moved to the right or to the left according to the new position it is to take up. For example, if the stop member I is to be shifted to the right for the next narrowing step, then it is intended to use the pattern mechanism 2 in the same manner as if the latter after its shifting, had again been pushed back into position of use. The pattern mechanism 2 then simply pushes the stop member I in front of it into the new position. This of course assumes that the engagement between the parts I, 8 is inoperative, as otherwise these would resist this shifting of the stop member I. If the member 4 has been raised out of engagement with the serrated locking member 8 for this purpose, some other means must be provided for rendering inoperative the usual spring which tends to pull the stop member I to the left, and this purpose is taken care of by the second latch means I2, I 4. The pawl I2 engages the ratchet I4 and prevents backward movement of the stop member I to the left. If the corresponding segment of the pattern mechanism 2 in its travel into position of use, should encounter the nose 6 cf the stop member I, the pattern mechanism 2 can push the stop member in front of it into the new position because the stop member willnot be obstructed in this operation by the second latch means I 2, I4 which only operates to prevent return movement. The pawl I2 in this case is simply lifted and the stop member I slides under said pawl. the stop member I is to be shifted to the left from its previous position of setting then it is merely necessary to disengage the locking member I from.

the locking member 8 when the freshly adjusted pattern mechanism 2 is brought back into position of use. The aforesaid usual spring which If the operation is such that pulls the stop member I to the left then guides said member back to the corresponding segment. This takes place impulsively, and it is also a purpose of the second latch means I2, I 4 to prevent this impulse. The arrangement, with this in view, is such that the pawl l2 can be shifted to the left. A lever I5 is arranged on the pawl for this purpose, which lever is rocked to and fro by means of an eccentric in such a manner that the pawl I2 is shifted to the left or to the right. If the stop member I is to be shifted to theleft from its previous position of setting, then the lever I5 is so operated that the pawl I2 is moved to the left. In this manner the usual spring can pull the stop member I to the left and the speed of movement is determined by the pawl l2 and lever I5. It is essential in the present mechanism that the pattern mechanism 2 after setting of the stop member I, must be moved back therefrom, in order that the pattern mechanism can be shifted for the next operation. The arrangement of the clock attachment necessary for this purpose can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 3 and 4 show the same mechanism with such improvements that the patternmechanism shifted for the next operation pushes the stop member I in front of it into the new position in its path into the position of use, when the stop member is to be shifted to the right with respect to its previous setting, and on the other hand, the pawl I2 allows the stop member I'to move to the left when the latter is to be shifted to this side from its previous setting.

The eccentric for the lever I5 operates In such a manner that thepawl I2, in shifting the slide 3 into the position of use, that is to the right, is carried back to the left. If the stop member I is shifted to the left then the spring of'the stop member I will have free action to the extent determined" by the backward movement of the pawl I2. If, however, the stop member I is already shifted to the right, nothing takes place when the pawl I2 is shifted to the left, because the stop member I will then simply be drawn belowthe pawl I2.

Obviously two eccentrics I6, H are required for shifting the slide 3 when the clock attachment is provided with the second latch means I2, I4 for the purpose just described, the movement of the slide 3 into the position of use in this case to take place at two different times according to whether the stop member has to be shifted to the left or to the right relatively to its previous setting, for the next narrowing operation. If a shifting to the left is to be effected, the slide 3 with its new adjusted pattern mechanism 2 must already have been returned to position of use when the stop member I has moved to the leftto its new position, in order that the stop member cannot move beyond its setting. If the case is such that the stop member I is to be shifted to the right, then this shifting takes place by the pattern mechanism 2 of the slide itself since it then pushes the stop member I in front of it into the new position. In this case therefore the slide 3 arrives in the position of use at the same time as the stop member I and for this reason the two eccentrics I6, I! are necessary.

The teeth pitch of the parts 4, 8 must correspond to the needle pitch of the machine because the stop member. I has to be shiftedto the extent of the needle pitch of the machine. The toothed bar 4, however, disregarding its movement dic- -tated by the wedge 9, is fixedly attached to the rod 1. When the toothed bar 4 is lowered into the toothed bar 8 of the stop member I, then in any position of the stop member I engagement of the parts 4, 8 must be possible.

I claim:-- a

A clock attachment for flat knitting frames having lace finger rods, comprising a pattern mechanism, wherein a stop member for the lace finger rods is adjusted by the pattern mechanism,

means for bringing the pattern mechanism after adjustment of the stop member out of engagement therewith for new adjustment, and a fixing means holding the stop member in position until 5 the covering operation is completed.

ARTHUR RICHTER. 

